PM unveils food security initiative on Mitiaro
During his official visit to Nukuroa last week, Prime Minister Mark Brown opened the Mitiaro Agriculture Hydroponics station, a facility with a 400-plant capacity.
Under the Adaptation Funded PEARL Project, hydroponics were installed and implemented for Mitiaro at the request of Mitiaro School and supported by the Mitiaro Island Government in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Cook Islands, Climate Change Cook Islands, Development Coordination Division of MFEM, Mitiaro Island Council and Community.
At the opening held on Friday, PM Brown emphasised the importance of the Mitiaro Hydroponic project to build capacity but also encourage healthy eating in the Pa Enua.
“This hydroponics station is also an opportunity to support our people’s livelihood as well as enable our Pa Enua like Mitiaro to be able to supply vegetables to Rarotonga to help the market and bring income back on to the island,” the Prime Minister said.
“We need to also encourage households to do the same with this technology and be able to be self-sufficient also.”
Secretary of Agriculture Temarama Anguna-Kamana said: “To have access to fresh vegetables and fruits is imperative for food security and encouraging healthy eating for our Pa Enua communities. These Island Nurseries and Hydroponics will assist in supporting the island agriculture and communities in enabling them to grow more fresh vegetables and fruits and root crops, to support food security on the island as well as be a teaching tool for our children.”
After the opening of the hydroponics station, PM Brown attended a community meeting where he held a question and answer session with the people of Mitiaro.
At the session, updates were provided on developments in the country, such as the licensing scheme with the Seabed Minerals Authority, as well as other plans in place for the Cook Islands including Covid-19 national updates.
Alex Herman, the commissioner of the Seabed Minerals Authority and Bishop Tutai Pere, chair of Seabed Minerals Advisory Committee , provided an update on the licensing process for exploration.
The media release said the community then put forward questions ranging from Government policies and plans on renewable energy, support to households, and infrastructure projects.
The Prime Minister responded that they were taking notes of the issues raised and his team will follow them up and report back.
Additional reporting by Climate Change Cook Islands
Written by CI News Staff | Published in National, Outer Islands